Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to six matches in all competitions with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 20 December 2025. The win, however, was marred by a worrying injury to a key player and a chaotic finale against nine men.
Red Card and Second-Half Spark Ignite Drab Affair
The first half was a largely forgettable affair, with both sides showing little attacking ambition. The game's major turning point arrived in the 33rd minute when Tottenham's Xavi Simons was shown a red card following a VAR review. Referee John Brooks initially issued a yellow after Simons trod on the calf of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, but upgraded it to red for serious foul play after consulting the pitchside monitor.
The match burst into life after the interval following the introduction of Alexander Isak. The Swedish striker broke the deadlock shortly after coming on, blasting home after being found by Florian Wirtz, capitalising on a mistake by Cristian Romero. Isak was injured in the process of scoring, colliding with Micky van de Ven, and was immediately substituted.
Ekitike Shines Amidst Tottenham Collapse
Liverpool doubled their lead through in-form summer signing Hugo Ekitike. The Frenchman rose above Romero to head in Jeremie Frimpong's cross via the crossbar, marking his fifth goal in his last three Premier League appearances.
Tottenham, reduced to ten men, found a late lifeline when substitute Richarlison fired in from close range after Van Dijk miskicked in the box. The Brazilian's goal set up a nervy finish, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished in injury time when Cristian Romero received a second yellow card, reducing Spurs to nine men.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was forced into late saves from Pedro Porro to secure the three points, leaving Tottenham languishing in 13th place with just one win in their last eight league games.
Key Talking Points from North London
Simons' Moment of Madness: The Dutch midfielder's needless challenge on Van Dijk completely altered the complexion of the match, handing Liverpool a significant numerical advantage.
Kudus Embodies Spurs Struggles: Mohammed Kudus's hesitant and ineffective performance, summed up by a series of backward passes and lost possession, highlighted a Tottenham side devoid of confidence and clarity before his substitution.
Injury Concern for Isak: Liverpool's joy at taking the lead was instantly tempered by the sight of their major summer signing, Alexander Isak, being forced off injured just seconds after scoring his goal.
Ekitike's Rising Stock: Hugo Ekitike's powerful header and all-round performance provided further evidence that he is adapting superbly to the demands of English football, offering Liverpool a potent attacking threat.
Chaotic Conclusion: The match descended into drama late on with Richarlison's goal, Romero's dismissal, and a series of Tottenham chances, ensuring Liverpool had to survive a major scare to claim victory.
